Expectations of Photographers

who submit TTG-labeled photos to TTG-ready providers


The photographer...

  • 1. Is always 100% responsible for the label

    The photographer is expected to accept full and sole personal and public responsibility for the appropriateness of the TTG label on any labeled photograph that he or she submits to a TTG-ready provider (TTG-RP).

    Photographers who are not sure what this means should read every point on this page, especially #2 and #11.

    (Of course, the TTG-RP is responsible if they mislabel, mis-present, misrepresent, or doctor the photograph after it is out of the photographer’s hands; see #5 in the Publishers guide.)

  • 2. Will add “IC” alerts when needed

    The photographer is expected to add an “IC” the TTG label (“TTG/IC”) if viewers would expect an “IC” given the circumstances of the photo.

    Anytime a photographer attaches the TTG label to a photograph, they are also acknowledging the need in many cases to notify viewers of “inapparent circumstances” or other potentially deceptive aspects of the photograph as per P8.

    Guide to IC alerts

  • 3. Will be clear and honest about the name or UOI to be used

    The photographer is expected to clearly provide the exact name or UOI that is to be used to back up the TTG label. (See also the section on “Accountability” here.)

    In submitting this name or UOI, the photographer is guaranteeing that as far as they can discern, use of that name or that UOI will not infringe upon the rights or reputation of any other photographer.

    The TTG-RP has a right to reject any name or UOI it finds objectionable

  • 4. Understands the high stakes

    The photographer is expected to understand that they are staking their reputation on each photograph that they label TTG in trusted settings.

    In other words, TTG photographers understand that their reputation can be permanently damaged (see #2 here) if they designate as TTG a photograph that is later revealed to not fully meet the Trust Test, or when the photographer fails to attach an “IC” alert when an alert is warranted.

    Photographers have no recourse if they submit for publication a photo that is later found to have been inappropriately labeled TTG; see for example #11 in the Publishing guide.

  • 5. Will not plead ignorance

    The photographer is expected to not plead ignorance about TTG if challenged on the validity of the TTG label that they applied.

    It is easy for photographers to decide — before they submit for publication a TTG-labeled photograph — whether their photographs are qualified for the label. The Trust Test and numerous other pages on this website (for example here) spell out what can and cannot be done to TTG photos.

    The photographer can also ask other photographers their opinion (teg.photos never gets involved in judging photographs).

  • 6. Will be very clear

    If the photographer submits multiple photos to a TTG-RP, the photographer is expected to be very clear about . . .

    • which photos are guaranteed TTG;

    • which photos are guaranteed TTG only when an “IC” alert is attached;

    • which photos are not to be labeled TTG.

    Since no one can credibly attach the TTG label to someone else’s unlabeled photograph, if a TTG-RP does not see the label attached to a submitted photograph, the TTG-RP has the right to publish the photograph without the label.



See also what is expected of publishers